Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-21
THELAST RESTING PLACE.
The Remains of the Martyred Lincoln
and His Wife Finally Inferred at
Springfield, Ill.
A special telegram from sprinpfiel,

The remains eff President and Mrs
Lincoln were taken from their secret
resting place this morning, and inferred
in the north vault of the Lincoln moRH-
ment in Oak Ridge cemetery, near this
city. Where the remains of these two
distinguished Americans have rested for
a number of years has been vested in
mystery. Great care and precaation has
been taken to keep the event CT this
morning profound secret. In 1865 the
body OF the martyred President was
placed in charge of the Lincoln Monument
Association. This association after an
attempt had been made to steal the re-
mains, called to their assistance an or
ganization formed for the purpose,
known as the Lincoln Guard of Honor.
The association was composed of o. N.
Hatch, George n. Black, Lincoln Dubois,
John W. Bum, Christopher C. Brown,
Jacob Bum, and James c. Conkliag. The
Guards of Honor embrace j. n. Reece,
j. G. Power, j. p. Ludley, n. B, Virgins,
Edward s. johnson, Horace Chaplin, and
Clinton l.. Conkling. All of the above
members of both associations were pres
ent this morning except former presi-
dent and treasurer of the Guards of
Honor, G.. S. Dana and James f. Nc
Neill, respectively. The two latter geE-
tlemen are oat of the State. The lin
coin Guards of Honor have more proper
ly had charge of the remains. So great
was the anxiety that they would be
STOLEN BY UNsoRUPULoUs MEN
DESTROYS of gaining large reward for their
returned that they were placed in the
grave unknown to the public, and in fact
to any but the members of the two asso-
-. l.. IL L. A.1- IL
day. Tuesday the following notice was
sent to the members of the organiza-
ion:
"DEAR SIR: Nine o'clock Thursday
morning, April IA, has been designated
by the executive committee as the time for
exhuming the remains of Mr.. and Mrs.
Lincoln for reburial. Please be at the
monument at that time. 1t is thought
best that it be strictly private. Do not
on any account let reporter know it.
j. G. POWER"
For several days work about the monu-
ment has been kept up very diligently.
Masens were at work about the north
vault, but every one connected with the
enterprise was sworn to secrecy, and
strangers and citizens were not permitted
to go around to that part of the tomb.
the members of the two association as
sembled at the monument They moved
about in very mysterious manner. AT
ter short discussion the custodian went
around on the north side where masons
were working. Wash Irwin, one of the
contractors came back with him. He car
ried cold chisel and hammer in his
hand. His borther, Joe Irwin, followed
him with five or six men and lot of
tools. They went in and the CRATE door
was again locked. Mr. Black, member
of the Guards, and his son came up. The
son sat in the buggy several yards away.
The custodian was heard to say: Il
guess we might as we'll go to work" A
key was heard in a door and all was quiet
for while.
Mr.. Jacob Bum came to the door. His
coat was covered with lime. He looked
ill. After little Mr.. Black came to the
door and beckoned to his son; then both
went in. The son was the first man to be
admitted who did not belong to either
one of the associations.
THE NEwsPAPERMAN PROTESTED,
but in vain. He was persistent, and fin
ally got in on the argument that the rule
been admitted.
coffin with the lid removed stood on
the rosters on the right of the room
the. head 10 the north. 1t was all
that was left of President Lincoln.
Twenty two years ago to-day he was shot.
The remains were remarkable case of
preservation. Those who stood around,
and had known Lincoln when alive, easily
discerned the features. They were very
distinct.
The secret grave was directly under
the north base of the obelisk, about
thirty feet from the north entrance, but
only accessible through the south door.
A door on the north of the hole 0her
the Lincoln relics are kept, leads through
a long, dark passage, first east then north
then west and then south to recess.
Here, about three feet below the surface
of the floor, were deposited the remains
of Abraham Lincoln and his wife.
The body of Mr.. Lincoln was in wal
nut coffin lined with an air tight lead lin
ing about one-eight of an inch thick.
The walnut coffin was in cedar box, and
the cedar box was inclosed in pine box.
Mrs Lincoln's remains were similarly in
closed.
While the remains of Mr.. Lincoln
were exposed to view, General Reese,
president of the guards of Honor, turned
the remains of Mr.. Lincoln over to the
Lincoln Monument Association. 4 GER
tifcate was signed by the members of the
Guards of Honor certifying that the re-
mains in the coffin were those received
from the Lincoln Monument Associa-
ton in 1873. The association made out
certificate signed by the members for the
records of the association, declaring the
remains to be those of Abraham Lin
coin.
The undertaken was then directed to
seal the coffin, and Leon Hopkins a
plumber, sealed it up. The coffin was
then taken out by the workmen and car
ried around to the vault on the north side.
The members of the two associations and
stranger Or two who happened to be
looking at the monument, followed. In
the north vault the floor had been taken
up. A hole eight feet long by six wide
and five and one-half deep, bricked up
and cemented had been prepared. The
presidents coffin was placed in this grave